Fundraising is no longer confined to physical events or local efforts. Thanks to social media and online fundraising platforms, you can now tap into a global audience. Whether you’re raising money for a personal project, nonprofit, or a cause close to your heart, knowing how to use each platform is key. The team at GoodHub will also help promote your messages on the GoodHub social media streams – just contact us and we’ll work with you to make it happen.
Facebook is one of the largest social networks, with billions of active users, making it ideal for both local and national fundraising efforts. Facebook’s group and event features offer great ways to rally support. The demographics around Facebook are generally slightly older.
- Host a Facebook Event: If you’re running an online event, like a virtual 5k, auction, or talent show, use Facebook Events to gather attendees and promote your campaign. Make sure to include the donation link in the event description and posts. You can link this to GoodHub for a seamless group.
- Live Videos: Use Facebook Live to engage your audience in real time. Stream a “live donation drive” where you can share updates, tell stories, and answer questions from viewers. This creates a sense of immediacy and personal connection.
- Share Donor Updates and Milestones: Regularly update your followers with thank-you posts, progress toward goals, and behind-the-scenes stories to encourage engagement and inspire more donations.
Instagram thrives on visual storytelling. The platform’s strong emphasis on images and video makes it perfect for showcasing your cause in a compelling and creative way.
- Use Links: Instagram allows you to link to platforms like GoodHub, making it easy for people to donate.
- Post Engaging Visuals: Since Instagram is a visual platform, post high-quality images or short videos that highlight the impact of donations. Consider before-and-after photos or stories from beneficiaries of your cause.
- Go Live: Instagram Live can engage your followers, especially when you’re nearing your fundraising goal or want to showcase a special event. Use it to host a Q&A, feature guest speakers, or do a live “thank you” session for donors.
- Collaborate with Influencers: Reach out to influencers or micro-influencers whose audience aligns with your cause. They can share your fundraiser with their followers and encourage donations.
Twitter (or X)
Twitter is fast-paced and great for spreading short, impactful messages.
- Use Hashtags: Use relevant trending hashtags to increase visibility. You can also create your own custom hashtag, like #Help[YourCause], and encourage followers to use it when they share your fundraiser.
- Pin a Tweet with Your Fundraising Link: Pin a tweet with the link to your fundraiser at the top of your profile. This ensures it’s the first thing people see when they visit your page.
- Leverage Twitter Threads: Use threads to tell a longer story about your cause, break down how donations will be used, or highlight important milestones. Twitter threads are a great way to share detailed updates in a digestible format.
- Tag Influencers and Brands: Tag relevant influencers, local celebrities, or businesses that might be interested in supporting your cause. A simple mention could amplify your reach and prompt them to share your campaign with their followers.
TikTok
TikTok is based on short, creative videos. It’s a place to capture attention quickly, especially if your campaign involves a compelling visual story, a challenge, or any kind of viral potential. It’s especially useful for a younger audience.
- Create a Challenge: TikTok thrives on viral challenges. Create a challenge around your fundraising campaign and ask followers to participate. For example, a fitness fundraiser could create a workout challenge, or a charity for the homeless could ask people to record themselves volunteering and tag your campaign.
- Share Impactful Short Videos: Use TikTok’s video format to show short, powerful stories about why you’re fundraising. Videos of people directly impacted by your cause are especially powerful on this platform.
- Include a Call to Action: In your video captions, include the link to your GoodHub fundraising page and a clear call to action. TikTok allows you to link to your fundraising page from your bio, so make sure to mention it in your videos.
- Partner with TikTok Creators: Reach out to TikTok influencers who align with your cause and ask them to create content that promotes your fundraiser.
LinkedIn is a professional network, but it can still be effective for fundraising. It allows you to contact businesses, professionals, and like-minded individuals who may have an interest in your cause, especially if it aligns with their values or business mission.
- Post Regular Updates and Milestones: Share posts about your campaign, how donations are being used, and the impact you’re having.
- Join and Share in Groups: Join relevant groups and share your campaign there, especially if your cause relates to professional or charitable organisations.
- Reach Out to Corporate Sponsors: If your campaign could benefit from corporate sponsorship, LinkedIn is a great place to connect with decision-makers. A direct message or post to a company can lead to potential partnerships or matching donations.
- Leverage LinkedIn’s Articles Feature: Publish an article about your cause or the personal story behind your fundraising. Include a donation link to your GoodHub page.
YouTube
YouTube is the go-to platform for long-form video content, and it allows you to tell your story in more detail.
- Create a Campaign Video: Upload a video explaining your cause, showing its impact, and including donation links in the description.
- Host a Virtual Event: YouTube Live is an excellent option for events like webinars, Q&A sessions, or donation drives. Use the super chat feature to encourage donations during your live stream.
- Collaborate with YouTubers: Reach out to YouTubers who share a similar audience and ask them to feature your campaign in their videos.
- Update Your Channel Banner: Add a fundraising call-out to your YouTube channel banner, so every visitor to your channel is immediately aware of your fundraiser.
Pinterest is a highly visual platform where users create “boards” for ideas, projects, and inspirations. It’s ideal for campaigns with a creative or DIY aspect, and its content can have a longer shelf-life than other platforms.
- Create a Fundraising Board: Pin images related to your cause—whether it’s images of the impact your donations will have, photos from past events, or inspirational quotes. Include links to your fundraising page on each pin.
- Use Rich Pins: Rich Pins allow you to add extra information, such as donation links and details about your campaign, right on the image itself. This is an easy way to drive traffic and donations directly from Pinterest to GoodHub.
- Inspire Action with Infographics: Pin informative and shareable infographics that explain the need for donations, how the funds will be used, and the progress of your campaign.
Conclusion
Each social media platform offers unique tools and features to help you promote your fundraising campaign. The demographics of each are slightly different. By tailoring your approach to each platform—whether it’s through Facebook Fundraisers, Instagram Stories, or Twitter threads—you can maximise your reach, build momentum, and boost donations. Tell a compelling story, and make it easy for your followers to support and share your campaign. And don’t forget to ask the GoodHub team to boost your efforts on their platforms.